My little girl.

Um, here's a video of Saoirse. It was raining here in Provo - something that is about as rare as me washing the sheets.

*cough*

Anyway, us midwesterners get all excited and have to go experience the hard drizzle and since Saoirse has probably never seen rain in her life, it's probably a wonderfully confusing thing to see.

My triumphant return.

So I think I've officially decided to start blogging again. I think the reason I stopped was because I wanted to make my blog a little more private without creating a password and saw that it had been viewed in several different countries. Funny thing is that I know like, no one outside of the U.S. so to those 2,000 people in Russia and those 200 in Mongolia reading this, HELLO!

I think I just didn't like the idea of having, well, basically a photo journal/diary being read by total strangers. I mean, it's still kind of weird that somebody in New Zealand can see my daughters face and read about her latest and greatest achievements, but heck, nobody can read her name so it's not like she's in any danger anyway right?

So, I guess a lot of time has passed since the last post and you might assume that amazing things have happened and great feats have been met, but no. Not really. Unfortunately the life of a stay-at-home mom is not glamorous or all too exciting. Unless you think making homemade cleaner is exciting? Then stay tuned! You're in luck! I've got all sorts of little ways to get by while being poor.

Speaking of which, I'm going to be a bridesmaid in a wedding in two weeks. I decided that, to save money, (since I always stand by my "modest is hottest" rule) I would make my own jacket to go with the sleeveless dress. Well, I finally finished the painfully slow and stressful task of making it (out of $40/yd fabric mind you) and I might say that it looks fantastic. I mean, I'm pretty sure it could have taken a mere fraction of the time it took me for someone who actually knows what their doing. But for someone whose never made anything like that before? It is a win. Plus I found some super cute and cheap shoes to go with it. Man I'm feeling good.

That's right.

Now, some might like to think I'm talented (I like to think so at least) but in reality, I'm just poor. Am I complaining? No way. I get to learn really great skills so that I can save some money. For example, (I wasn't kidding about this), homemade cleaning solution! It's like, the best thing I've ever heard of for a couple of reasons, one, it's totally chemical-less and harmless to children and animals - aka totally natural! And since I'm on this all natural thing with my foods it doesn't hurt to clean a little safer too. And two, it is by far the least expensive thing out there and it cleans EVERYTHING - minus windows (if you're going for that streakless look that is).

It's easy to make

All you need is one grapefruit or an orange or something like unto them, and save the peels. I'm going to be honest, we usually just let our grapefruit rot because they're kind of gross so I don't even eat the inside.... anyway, put that in a quart-sized mason jar and fill it to the top with distilled white vinegar.

Boom.

Let that sit there for at least 3 weeks. This little puppy has been going for a month and a half. Unrefrigerated of course - nothing gross will grow in there because, it's vinegar, it kills things. 

When you're ready for some cleaner you just strain the citrus vinegar liquid and poor it (the liquid of course) into a spray bottle. The bottle I have perfectly fits a jar-full of vinegar + a jar-full of water. You could use it straight up but I like to dilute it a little to stretch it as far as I can. And as far as I can tell, most people would suggest diluting it. Why? Who knows. Now, I KNOW what you're asking, "Does it cut down on the vinegar smell?" A little. You definitely still smell the vinegar but it's enough that I think it's worth the (very) little work to make it citrusy.

More to come later folks. Perhaps I'll mention the Minecraft obsession going on in my house sometime. Maybe.

My portabella pride.

It's been a while since I posted anything on here concerning vegan eatings but let me reassure you, the reader, that we are vegan and well!  We have slimmed up and wised up to the follies of man-made "food." I'm happy to report that my body now repels any and all dairy, and meat for the most part.  We eat out once or twice a month and I try to stay with the diet, occasionally eating some chicken or turkey.  But what I really wanted to talk about in this post is... the portabella mushroom!

As it turns out, these mushrooms are the meat in the vegan society.  There is also nothing I hate more than mushrooms.  They are a fungus.  People spend their entire lives avoiding fungus and they want me to EAT it?  No thanks.  But let's be sensible, being a vegan requires a bit of fearlessness when it comes to eating.  You have to eat new things especially when your diet only consisted of Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers and Sterzings chips (ooooooooooh Sterzings, how I love thee).  We decided to try 3 different ways of preparing portabellas.  Okay really more like 2 different ways, but we'll say 3.

1. Portabella mushroom steaks:

Season prepared mushroom with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Grill for about 10 minutes.  We served this with baked beans (definitely not vegan friendly with Miss Queen Bean ruling her can-kingdom) and a baked potato with Stewed Tomatoes (a Forks Over Knives recipe) on top.

-Result-

The mushroom tasted REALLY good but the texture kind of did it in for me.  I figured out that if you season it like you would a piece of meat you'll get it to taste EXACTLY like your favorite kind of meat.  You just won't get it to feel like one.  Maybe I cooked it too long?  Who knows.  I probably won't be making it again for the texture reason.  The potato was good, as usual and the beans were satisfying the desire for fake sugar, salty meat, and FAKE SUGAR.  Bad Abby.

2. Portabella burgers:

Season prepared mushroom as you do the steak version; with olive oil (on both sides), salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Grill for a few minutes (I tried a little less time to see if it might not be so squishy).  Served with sweet potato baked fries - bake slices at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes.

-Result-

SO AMAZING.  Honestly one of the best burgers I've ever had.  So tasty and satisfying.  I would definitely make this again and am looking forward to making these somewhere in the mountains this summer!  The texture was again, not very mea-like, but it wasn't distracting either.  It worked with with the bread texture of the bun and was overall quite wonderful for all of my senses.

3. Portabella sloppy joes:

We bought small presliced portabella mushrooms (we were going to make the burgers again but they only had these little prepackaged, presliced deals so we tried it out) threw those in a pan with a little oil (oil wasn't necessary but we did it because our pan makes everything stick to it) and added 1/4 cup of Heintz Ketchup (no high fructose corn syrup or nasty preservatives) along with lots of onion powder, lots of garlic powder, pepper, cayenne pepper, parsley, basil, and Montreal Steak Seasoning... I think that was it.  Served with baked sweet potato fries.

-Result-

I would make this again in a heartbeat.  Who needs meat when you can get the same taste and half the price??  I don't.

Her new teddy bear.

It's small.  It's ugly.  And I made it yesterday!  Enjoy!

It's made from the scrap cotton fabric I used for one of Saoirse's bed sheets.  I think it's actually kind of cute in its ugliness.

My killer Vegan Pancakes.

Revisited!  We changed the recipe a little to help the pancakes stay together a little better.  They tended to be a bit crumbly with the previous recipe.  It's much better now.

These pancakes were a scary substitute for our Sunday pancake breakfast.  I say scary because there is zero dairy/eggs/such things that make bready things happy.  Joseph found the recipe online and I refined it to exactly what my taste buds will force me to make a special trip to the store for.  You wouldn't guess for a second that there is no milk or eggs in these bad boys!  Yes, I did just make them for dinner.  YES, I enjoyed every single bite.  So good!  Sorry I have no picture, I was going to take one tonight but they were gone way too fast!

Vegan Pancakes

1 cup flour
2 Tbs sugar (we like to put 3)
2 Tbs (no less!!) baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup soy milk  (I use vanilla almond milk)
2 Tbs vegetable oil
apple juice

1. Heat pan to medium Heat.
2. Combine the dry ingredients.
3. Add milk and oil to the mixture until smooth.
4. (optional) add apple juice until you like the consistency.  I personally like my pancakes thinner so I add 2 or 3 Tbs of water, don't add anything if you like your cakes thick.
5. Make some stinking pancakes!
6. Serve with syrup or some delicious homemade fruit topping; just boil your favorite berry or fruit in a little water and a little sugar.  Boom done.


And people say that vegans eat boring food.  These are, by far, the best pancakes I've ever eaten.

Our selfish generation

We live in a selfish generation.  Being selfish is a tactic the one and only adversary uses to pull us away from our Savior, who is the definition of selfless.  It makes me sick just how horrible people can be.  Divorce, abortion and "living life" are all staples of our society.  I've been thinking a lot about abortion lately for some reason.  I guess related subjects have been in the news every now and then.  Obama used his "common sense" not to allow The Morning After pill on the shelves for anyone to buy (the argument was that children under the age of 17 should not be allowed to purchase such an item).  A doctor in the article I read about it said that these 11 year old girls who have poor judgment and have sex should not have to be punished by having a child but that the money and worry is enough punishment.  Um, no.  That's OUR world!  I can't believe it.  Murder a child because you don't want to take care of it.  Forget responsibility, we all just want to have fun without consequences!  Other examples of having fun without thinking about consequences are smokers, druggies, alcoholics, pornography addictions, ANY addiction, they all just want to do it because they 'like' it and it makes them feel good.  Garbage.  Let me tell you, I'm pro choice, you can choose whether or not you have sex.  You can choose whether or not to smoke (anything).  You can choose.  But the problem with this generation is that we are a people of now.  Now meaning, what we want, we want it now.  Forget the future, old people are boring.  NOW is the time to live!  Forget having kids, I want to have fun while I'm young!  Satan has confused the poor minds of this generation and now having values and morals that uppose adultery, abortion and addictions is strange and unusual.  What a generation we live in.  The generation of selfishness.  At least, from what I know, I can raise my children in the Gospel.  I can teach them what is right before the world has a chance to teach them what is wrong.  When I stand at the judgment bar before God I will then be able to tell him that I have done all that I could have done.  I only hope the example we set as a family can inspire the minds massaged numb by the adversary.

My very own Vegetable soup!

Serves 2

1 potato
1 celery stalk
1 carrot
1/2 of a medium shallot
2 cups vegetable broth
about 1 cup noodles
water
2 Tbs flour
salt (optional)
garlic (optional)
pepper to taste

Chop shallot and celery and fry in a little water in a pot until shallot is almost translucent.  Then add chopped carrot and potato and the vegetable broth (and the seasonings if you want them).  In a separate bowl mix about 2 Tbs flour with just enough water to cover the flour and mix with fork until there are no clumps.  Add to pot.  Cook for about 20 or so minutes (I think I let mine cook for half an hour so the time doesn't really make a difference) then add noodles, cook for about 10 more minutes and serve!

Really yummy!  And I just made it up!  I'm feeling much more comfortable now cooking vegan meals.  I love it!!  It's got such a good flavor.  I wouldn't be opposed to doubling the amount of vegetable broth either.

I'm watching this right now, it's probably my FAVORITE movie.  Soooo good!!! 

Also, I will be putting up pictures from Thanksgiving in Iowa!!  I got to see my cousin Evan who I haven't seen in about 12 years!!!!  He's the nicest guy ever.  You would never know he was in prison for that 12 years.  

My Hearty Minestrone.

I've never really liked minestrone, though, I only ever had it at restaurants.  But today was a chilly day and soup sounded good for my insides.  I absolutely had no idea how much I would love this homemade version!  It was great and very filling.  Everything I put into the pot (which, by the way, was an astronomical amount of food) made my mouth water.  Let's see, there were onions, celery, carrots, green beans, cannelloni beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, vegetable juice, cabbage (!!!), noodles, and seasonings.

It was super amazing and thick.  There were as many veggies and beans as there was liquid which I REALLY appreciated.  There's nothing more annoying than soupy soup.  It had great flavor and texture and everything.  This would be a great meal for large gatherings and big families because we have some very serious leftovers.  We'll be eating this for a few days.  

A good meal!

My applesauce.

I made Saoirse some homemade applesauce and it is really good!  I'm really excited about this because there aren't any preservatives in it and no sugar!  It's JUST apples!  The best part is that she loves it.  And of course I forgot to take any pictures.

All I did was google how to make applesauce and went here. Super easy.  Although I don't think this lady mentions how important it is to keep an eye on the water level, because it goes down quickly and it doesn't take long for your house to fill with the smoke of burning apples.  Just saying.  Strangely enough, slightly burned (I like to call them 'browned') apples taste pretty good, so I still made applesauce.

My life is amazing.

I'm playing a little catch-up with this blog post because I haven't posted anything in forever and a lot of food has been cooked and Christmas trees put up!!  

I'll get this out of the way first, I made the Split Pea Soup from our cookbook Forks Over Knives, it lacked.... almost everything.  It was really bland and very watery.  If I make this again I would add noodles and probably celery and ... just more vegetables or something.  And probably 2 cups less water. Soo not the best thing I've ever eaten.

THIS WAS DELICIOUS.  We were watching Destination Truth and were really craving a dessert, so Joseph looked online for some good vegan desserts because, if you don't already know this, every delicious dessert under the sun is made with butter and milk and BUTTER.  But! we found this recipe for cookies that was amazing.  If I remember correctly, it was 3 cups instant oatmeal, 3 bananas, some amount of prunes, 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or applesauce), 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg.  I put a little peanut butter in it as well.  If I were to make this again I would probably put some nuts in (I didn't have prunes so I have no idea if it's good or not).  This was seriously a delicious cookie and it made the house smell AMAZING.

Layered Tex-Mex Lasagna

5 stars. So good.  I really didn't miss the meat or the noodle in this!  It had pinto beans, corn, green chiles, corn tortillas, and some serious red sauce.  If you like your local mexican restaurant you will really like this, it tastes exactly like something you'd get there.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS.

Our neighbors had us over for dinner on Sunday and surprised us with helping them put up their Christmas tree, BEST IDEA EVER.  Dinner was yummy and tree was beautiful!  Kendra helped me make some origami ornaments since we had three ornaments last year.  They turned out so amazingly awesome and now our tree looks fantastic!!!!!

Tim-Tam Slam.

Our neighbors, Adam and Kendra, enjoying their very first Tim-Tam Slams.  Aren't they cute?!

Haha, I don't even know what he's doing.

So I hadn't had milk in a couple of weeks and when we drank some at A & K's house it was so weird!  It was really strong and just kind of strange tasting.  I think I made Joseph drink some of my milk because I just couldn't handle it which is kind of exciting.  I love eating vegan meals and feeling generally more healthy.  We're not completely vegan yet because our supply of meaty and dairy foods seems to be never ending but in all the time we've been eating vegan meals we stopped drinking milk.  So I guess I'm just excited my body is okay with not drinking it and I don't really miss it too much anymore especially now that it tastes crazy.  

I LOVE MY BODY!  It really is kind of amazing how it knows things.  For example, Saoirse had her first taste of bananas about a week ago and she never really liked them much although I would force feed them to her everyday.  As it turns out they were likely causing an allergic reaction and she was super off the whole week until finally her body produced a lovely rash.  No more bananas, rash gone, happy mommy.  Well.... kind of happy, this means that while I'm breastfeeding her I probably shouldn't eat bananas either.  Bummer.  I guess Joseph will have to enjoy those cookies all by himself.  Anyway, I think she didn't like them because she already knew they were no bueno for her tummy.

P.S. A banana allergy is often accompanied by a latex allergy!  Weird.